At that moment Mr.Hillary passed, and Val arrested him, pointing to the Rectory.
"Yes, they are having a cleansing and purification.

The family went away this morning." "Went where ?" exclaimed Hartledon, in amazement.
"Dr.Ashton has taken a cottage near Ventnor." "Had Mrs.Ashton quite recovered ?" "Quite: or they would not have gone.

The Rectory has had a clean bill of health for some time past." "Then why did they not let me know it ?" exclaimed Val, in his astonishment and anger.
"Perhaps you didn't ask," said the surgeon.

"But no visitors were sought.
Time enough for that when the house shall have been fumigated." "They might have sent to me," he cried, in resentment.

"To go away and never let me know it!" "They may have thought you were too agreeably engaged to care to be disturbed," remarked the surgeon.
"What do you mean ?" demanded Val, hotly.
Mr.Hillary laughed.